Reciprocable leaf-type switch with rotatable and compressible leaf spring contacts



y 1966 B. E. SCHLESINGER, JR 3, 3

RECIPROCABLE LEAF-TYPE SWITCH WITH ROTATABLE AND COMPRESSIBLE LEAFSPRING CONTACTS Filed Oct. 4, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 2.80 5 H280 w 260i: :2: 26 26 280 g I a y 1966 B E. SCHLESINGER, JR 3,

PRESSIBLE RECIPROCABLE LEAF-TZPE SWITCH WITH ROTATABLE AND COM LEAFSPRING CONTACTS Filed Oct. 4, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR WWW) y1966 B. E. SCHLESINGER, JR 3,

RECIPROCABLE LEAF-TYPE SWITCH WITH ROTATABLE AND COMPRESSIBLE LEAFSPRING CONTACTS Filed Oct. 4, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR UnitedStates Patent 3,261,928 RECIPROCABLE LEAF-TYPE SWITCH WITH ROTATABLE ANDCOMPRESSIBLE LEAF SPRING CONTACTS Bernard Edward Schlesinger, Jr., 3906Bruce Lane, Annandale, Va. Filed Oct. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 492,595 19Claims. (Cl. 200-8) This invention pertains to reciprocable typeswitches and more particularly to switches having a fiat leaf springcontact member. This invention further relates to multiple as well asindividual contact type switches.

In general, leaf type switches operate by means of a pressure beingapplied transverse to the axis of the leaf so as to deflect one leafagainst another to complete an electrical circuit. Flynt 2,320,774 is anearly development showing pressure applied directly to a bow in a springmember. In this particular development, the spring is flattened in orderto make contact. In Gardineer, 3,196,- 219 the corrugated spring isstretched in order to break contact.

General summary This invention contemplates the use of a flat contactmember which has one end free and the other end movable. When the springcontact member is compressed endwise, it bows against a contact surfaceto make an electrical circuit operable. Similarly, if a fiat leaf springwith a bow therein is flattened so as to eliminate the bow, pressureinitially against a contact surface is withdrawn so as to open anelectrical circuit.

Objects It is an object of this invention to provide a switch of theleaf type, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multiple contact switchwhich may be used in programming operations.

A further object of this invention is to provide a reciprocable switchwith a plurality of contact members operating on a series of contactswhich can be controlled by a single plunger. i

Still another object of this invention is to provide a contact switchwhich is compact and reliable.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a multiplecontact switch which will not bind or jam during operation; a furtherobject of this invention is to provide a contact switch which isadaptable to many types of switching systems.

These and other objects of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example variousembodiments of this invention:

FIGURE 1 is a cross sectional view of a sleeve type switch utilizing theteachings of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view along the lines 2 '2 of FIGURE 1 andviewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 illustrate three typesof sleeves adaptable for usewith this invention;

in a first position by solid line and in a second position by dottedlines.

FIGURES 11 and 12 are plan views showing two different modifications ofthe conductors per se as would be utilized in the device illustrated forexample in FIG- URE 10.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary perspective view showing yet anothermodification of this invention.

FIGURES 1 through 6 In FIGURE 1, a casing C is provided generally ofnonconductive material such as plastic or the like. The cas ing C asillustrated in FIGURE 2 has a cylindrical shape but may for reasonswhich will be obvious upon further reading, have other configurationssuch as eliptical, rectangular, etc.

Within the sidewalls 10 of the casing C are a series of contacts 12which are annularly spaced as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The contacts 12are shown as being set in the same plane but they may be spacedvertically one from the other as desired. The contacts 12 may be of anystandard type contact and may be spring loaded balls as illustrated orsolid bar members embedded in the wall 10.

The base 14 and the top 16 of the casing form together with thesidewalls 10 a chamber 18 in which is positioned a spring contact member20. The spring contact member 20 as illustrated in FIGURE 3 for exampleincludes a bottom rim 22 and an upper rim 24. Extending between the rims22 and 24 in circular fashion are a series of contact slats 26 havingslightly bowed portions 28. The contact sleeve 20 may be formed from atube or from a fiat piece of stock which is welded into a tubular shape.The sleeve 20 may be nonconductive and coated in specific areas withconductive material or the rims 22 and 24 may be non-conductive with theslats 26 conductive as desired.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a slightly different type of sleeve 20a having alower rim 22a and an upper rim 24a and slats 26a each having a series ofslightly bowed sections 28a.

FIGURE 5 shows another sleeve 20b having rims 22b and 24b and connectingslats 26b. The slats 26b are spirally positioned as illustrated inFIGURE 5.

FIGURE 6 shows the wall 10 of the casing C having contacts 12 andillustrating how a slat 26 with a conductive coating 30 in the area ofthe bow 28 would close the circuit between the conductors 12.

Referring back to FIGURE 1, the base portion of the sleeve 20 may beprovided with an annular rim 32 having cogs or gear teeth projectingfrom the bottom thereof. The sleeve would rest upon a pinion 34 which isset in the base 14 so that one side of the gear 34 engages the teeth 32and the other side is in contact with a driving mechanism not shown. Itwill be obvious that rotating the pinion 34 about its shaft 36, thesleeve 26 will be rotated within the chamber 13. This is done forpositioning the slats as desired to give different switchingcombinations as for example for permitting the connection of contacts 37illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The top 16 of the casing C is shown as comprising a reciprocatingplunger or button 38 having skirt portions 40 which reciprocate withinthe chamber 18. An annular stop member 42 is provided for limiting thetravel of the push button 38. Spring means 44 may be provided if thespring action of the sleeve 20 is not suflicient to return the sleeve tonormal position upon pushing of the plunger or button 38.

Operation of the device illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 6 It will nowbe seen that upon depressionofplunger 38, the sleeve 20 will becollapsed causing the slats 26 to increasingly bow outwardly in thedirection of the slight bows 28 and into contact engagement with thewall contacts 12.

The construction in FIGURE 4 allows for additional contact arrangementsas will be obvious since the contact bow areas 28 each provide a contactsurface when they engage with the wall 18 of the casing C.

In FIGURE 5, the slight bow is automatically set into the slat 26b dueto the spiral effect. As pressure is exerted on the sleeve 2%, the slatsexpand outwardly into contact engagement as heretofore described.

It is obvious that the sleeve 26 as illustrated in FIGURE 1 may beelectrically connected to a lead 46 by means of a wiping contactor 48engaging the bottom rim 32.

It will be obvious that without some slight outward how 28 in the slats26 of the sleeve 20, inward deflection of the slats may occur therebypreventing proper operation of the switch.

FIGURES 7 and 8 FIGURE 7 shows a casing C having contacts 50 in the wallthereof. A plunger 52 is spring biased by means of a spring 54 restingin a recess 56 in the cover 58 of the casing C. The plunger 52 issecured to a piston 60 which travels in an annular groove 62 in thechamber 64 of the casing C. In the bottom of the casing C is a bearing66 which supports a spring contact member 68. The spring contact member68 is journaled as at '79 in the piston 60. The journal 70 is offsetfrom the central axis of the piston 60. It is to be noted that thespring contact 68 has a slight bow due to the ofiset of the bearing 66from the journal '7' 6. Connected to the spring contact member 68 is anelectrical lead '72. The plunger 60 may be provided with gear teethwhich engage a pinion 74 mounted on a shaft 76 in the casing C. Thepinion 74 may be driven by a gear not shown. It will now be obvious thatby rotation of the plunger 66 in the housing or casing C, the springcontact 63 will be positioned selectively for actuation against variouscontacts 56 as desired.

FIGURE 8 shows the casing C with a plunger 89 connected to a piston 82.A spring 84 maintains pressure against the plunger 80. Within thechamber 86 is a spring contact rod or the like 88 which is bowedslightly as illustrated in FIGURE 8. The rod 88 is connected to thepiston 82 at the top and to a rotating gear 90 which rests in the baseof the casing C. A pinion 92 meshes with the gear 90. A driving gear 94drives the pinion and in turn drives the gear 90 to which the rodcontact member 88 is journaled. A conductor 96 makes contact with therod 88.

Stop members 98 are provided to limit the travel of the piston 82 in thechamber 86.

Operation of FIGURES 7 and 8 It will now be obvious that by depressionof the plungers illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, the rod shaped contactmembers 68 and 88 will deflect outwardly in the direction of the bow tomake contact with their respective contact members 50 in the casing C.The amount of deflecton of the rods 68 and 88 will determine the numberof contacts vertically which can be interconnected when the rods 68 and88 contact the sidewalls of the casing C. Rotation of the rod membersthrough the gearing arrangements illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 willpermit changing of the circuitry as desired.

FIGURES 9 through 13 In FIGURE 9, a casing C is provided with a seriesof recesses 100, 102, 104 and 186 in which there are contacts 108. Therecesses or chambers 1th through 106 may be discontinuous in the casingC or continuous through the width of the casing C. In other words, anumber of similar chambers can be provided with a wall-like partitiontherebetween as desired.

Extending into the casing C is a contact member 110 which is fiat andnonconfigured. Opposite the area of the chambers through 106, the casingC has curved surfaces such as 112, 114, 116 and 118. These surfaces tendto deflect slightly the contact member in the direction of the contacts108 in the block or casing C. It will be obvious that when the springcontact member 111 is pushed inwardly into the passageway 120 by meansof a plunger operator 122, the spring-like nature of the contact member116 will cause deflection into the recesses 106 to 106 thereby makingcontact with the contacts 10'8 to operate circuits as desired.

In FIGURE 10, the casing C is provided with a passageway 124 in which aspring contact member 126 enters and loops about a central chamber 128.Contacts 130 in the wall of the casing or housing C are shown inengagement with the spring contact member 126. In FIG- URES 9 and 10 theends of the spring contact members 110 and 1.26 respectively are fixedto the casing C so as to prevent the ends from moving linearly or in anaxial direction. When in FIGURE 10 the spring contact member 26 is movedoutwardly from the passageway 124, it moves away from the wall of thechamber 128 and out of contact engagement with the contacts 139. Thedotted line position shows the actual position after a withdrawal of thecontact spring member 126.

FIGURE 13 illustrates a simple casing C having a flexible spring-likeconductor 132 mounted in a chamber 134 for engagement with a series ofcontacts 136. The leaf spring member 132 is electrically connected as at138. When the plunger is moved inwardly, the raised portion 142 of thecasing C causes deflection of the normally flat spring member 132upwardly and into contact engagement with the conductors 136.

FIGURES 11 and 12 show two types of spring contact members which may beutilized. FIGURE 11 shows a bar member 144 which may be nonconductiveand which has recesses or holes therein 146 for receipt of the bases ofthe slats or spring leaf members 148. The normally stationary ends ofthe slats 148 contain U-shaped slots 150 which are used to engage setscrews or the like (not shown) for positioning the spring contactmembers posi tively within the casing C. FIGURE 12 merely shows a flatstrip 152 having printed circuits 154 thereon. The member 152 isprovided with holes 156 for receipt of said screws (not shown) toposition the contact member 152 within the casing or housing C.

It will be obvious that in general, one end of the contact members willbe axially movable whereas the other end will be stationary in order toobtain defiexing action desired.

General operation of FIGURES 9 through 13 It will now be obvious thateither a push or a pull action maybe employed against the spring contactmembers 110, 1 26, 144, 152 and 132 as desired in order to make or breaka series of circuits. It will also be obvious that whole batteries ofswitches such as illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 6; 7 through 8; or 9through 13 may be provided for obtaining many types of switchingoperations.

While the invention has been described in connection with ditferentembodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodification, and this application is intended to cover any variations,uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the artto which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essentialfeatures hereinbefore set forth and fall within the scope of theinvention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A reciprocable type switch comprising (a) a housing,

(b) said housing including a plurality of chambers in connected serieshaving at least one electrical contact member mounted in the wall ofeach chamber,

(c) a flexible spring contact member extending through each chamber insaid series and having one end relatively stationary and the other endmovable in a longitudinal direction only with respect to said relativelystationary end,

(d) said flexible spring contact member being substantially flatthroughout its operating length,

(e) said flexible spring contact member when positioned in said housinghaving a contact bow in each series chamber in the direction of theelectrical contact member in each series chamber, and

(if) an operator engaging the movable end of said spring contact memberwhereby when the movable end of such spring contact member is moved bysaid operator, the contact bows of said spring contact member expand orcontract until said spring contact member engages or disengages saidelectrical contact members thereby to operate electrical circuits.

2. A reciprocable type switch comprising (a) a housing,

(b) said housing including a plurality of nonconnected parallel chamberseach having at least one electrical contact member in each chamber,

(c) a flexible spring contact member for each parallel chamber extendingthrough each parallel chamber and having one end relatively stationaryand the other end movable in a longitudinal direction only with respectto said relatively stationary end,

(d) said flexible spring contact members being substantially flatthroughout their operating lengths,

(c) said flexible spring contact members when positioned in said housinghaving a contact bow in each parallel chamber in the direction of theelectrical contact member in each parallel chamber, and

(f) an operator engaging the movable end of said spring contact memberswhereby when the movable end of said spring contact members are moved bysaid operator, the contact bows of each of said spring contact membersexpand or contract until said spring contact members engage or disengagesaid electrical contact members thereby to operate electrical circuits.

3. A reciprocable type switch as in claim 1 and where- (a) said housingincludes a plurality of non-connected parallel chambers each having atleast one electrical contact member in each chamber, and including (b) aseparate spring contact member for each parallel chamber and including(c) a contact bow in each parallel chamber.

4. A reciprocable type switch comprising:

(a) a tubular shaped housing,

(b) said housing including bottom wall and side walls,

(c) stationary electrical contact members in said side walls,

(d) a contact sleeve mounted centrally within said housing,

(c) said sleeve including a plurality of individual slats of equalheight extending between the top and bottom of said sleeve,

(f) the bottom of said sleeve being mounted on the bottom wall of saidhousing,

(g) an operator connected to the top of said sleeve,

(h) said sleeve being linearly compressible,

(i) said slats being flat contact bars each having at least one contactbow projecting outwardly and normally spaced from said electricalcontact members, wherey (j) when said operator is pushed, said sleeve iscompressed causing said slats to bow outwardly until said slats engagesaid electrical contact members thereby operating selected electricalcircuits.

5. A reciprocable type switch as in claim 4 and where- (a) said slatsare electrically disconnected.

6. A reciprocable type switch as in claim 4 and when:- in:

(a) said slats are electrically connected.

7. A reciprocable type switch as in claim 4 and where- 1n:

(a) said slats each include a plurality of spaced convex bows, and (b)said electrical contact members are spaced to cooperate each with one ofsaid bows when said operator is pushed.

8. A reciprocable type switch as in claim 4 and where'- 1n:

(a) said sleeve is non-conductive, and

(b) said sleeve is coated with conductive material in the area of saidslats.

9. A reciprocable type switch as in claim 4 and where- (a) said slatsare helically shaped.

10. A reciprocable type switch as in claim 4 and wherein:

(a) said slats are axially aligned with said sleeve axis in circularfashion about said sleeve axis.

11. A reciprocable type switch as in claim 4 and where- 1111 (a) atleast some of said slats each contain a plurality of contact bows.

12. A reciprocable type switch as in claim 4 and where- (a) said sleeveis rotatable in said housing.

13. A reciprocable type switch comprising:

(a) a cylindrical housing forming a chamber,

(b) said chamber including top, bottom and side walls,

(c) electrical contact members in said side walls,

((1) a rod like flexible spring contact member spaced from said chamberside walls,

(c) said rod shaped spring contact member extending vertically from thebottom to the top wall in said chamber,

(f) said contact member having a contact bow in that portion of saidcontact member lying within said chamber,

(g) said top wall of said chamber including a plunger for said rod likemember reciprocable in said housing whereby,

(h) when said rod like spring contact member is actuated by saidplunger, said contact bow expands until said contact member engages withsaid electrical contact member thereby opening or closing a selectedcircuit.

14. A reciprocable type switch as in claim 13 and wherein:

(a) said rod shaped member is rotatively supported in said housing, andincluding (b) means for rotating said rod shaped member.

15. A reciprocable type switch as in claim 14 and wherein:

(a) said one end of said rod shaped member is ofiset axially within saidchamber from said other end of said rod shaped member.

16. A reciprocable type switch comprising (a) a housing,

(b) said housing including a chamber,

(0) an electrical contact member mounted in the wall of said chamber,

(d) a flexible spring contact member within said chamber and having oneend relatively stationary and the other end movable in a longitudinaldirection only 'with respect to said relatively stationary end,

(e) said flexible spring contact member being substantially flatthroughout its operating length and having portions thereofnon-conductive,

(if) said flexible spring contact member when positioned in said housinghaving a contact bow in the direction of said electrical contact in theportion of said spring contact member lying within the confines of saidchamber,

(g) an operator engaging the movable end of said spring contact memberwhereby when the movable end of said spring contact member is moved bysaid operator, the contact bow of said spring contact member expands orcontracts until such spring contact member engages or disengages saidelectrical contact member thereby to operate an electrical circult.

"17. A reciprocable type switch comprising (a) a housing,

(b) said housing including a single chamber,

(c) a plurality of electrical contact members mounted in the wall ofsaid chamber,

(d) a plurality of flexible spring contact members in spaced, side byside relation in said chamber and each of said flexible contact memberscooperating with at least one of said electrical contact members,

(e) said flexible spring contact members having one end relativelystationary and the other end movable in a longitudinal direction onlywith respect to said relatively stationary end,

(t) said flexible spring contact members being substantially flatthroughout their operating length,

(g) said flexible spring contact members when positioned in said housingeach having a contact bow in the direction of its respective electricalcontact and in the portions of the spring contact members lying withinthe confines of said chamber, and

(h) an operator engaging the movable ends of said spring contact memberswhereby when the movable ends of said spring contact members are movedby said operator, the contact bows of said spring contact members expandor contract until said spring contact members engage or disengage saidelectrical contact members thereby to operate electrical circuits.

18. A reciprocable type switch as in claim 17 and wherein:

(a) said electrical spring contact members are mounted in side by siderelation in a support bar.

19. A reciprocable type switch comprising (a) :a housing,

(b) said housing including a chamber,

(c) an electrical contact member mounted in the wall of said chamber,

((1) a flexible spring contact member within said chamber having one endrelatively stationary and the other end movable in a longitudinaldirection only with respect to said relatively stationary end,

(e) said flexible spring contact member being of nonconductive materialand substantially flat throughout its operating length and having aprinted circuit thereon,

(f) said flexible spring contact member when positioned in said housinghaving a contact bow in the direction of said electrical contact in theportion of said spring contact member lying within the confines of saidchamber, and

(g) an operator engaging the movable end of said spring contact memberwhereby when the movable end of said spring contact member is moved bysaid operator, the contact bow of said spring contact member expands orcontracts until said spring contact member engages or disengages saidelectrical contact member thereby to operate an electrical circuit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,524,410 10/1950Trainor 200l59 X 2,923,787 2/1960 Nelson 200-159 X 2,964,986 12/1960Johnson 2005 X 3,206,561 9/1965 Fordeck 200-5 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER,Primary Examiner.

I. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner.

1. A RECIPROCABLE TYPE SWITCH COMPRISING (A) A HOUSING, (B) SAID HOUSINGINCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CHAMBERS IN CONNECTED SERIES HAVING AT LEASTONE ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEMBER MOUNTED IN THE WALL OF EACH CHAMBER, (C) AFLEXIBLE SPRING CONTACT MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH EACH CHAMBER IN SAIDSERIES AND HAVING ONE END RELATIVELY STATIONARY AND THE OTHER ENDMOVABLE IN A LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION ONLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID RELATIVELYSTATIONARY END, (D) SAID FLEXIBLE SPRING CONTACT MEMBER BEINGSUBSTANTIALLY FLAT THROUGHOUT ITS OPERATING LENGTH, (E) SAID FLEXIBLESPRING CONTACT MEMBER WHEN POSITIONED IN SAID HOUSING HAVING A CONTACTBOW IN EACH SERIES CHAMBER IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTMEMBER IN EACH SERIES CHAMBER, AND (F) AN OPERATOR ENGAGING THE MOVABLEEND OF SAID SPRING CONTACT MEMBER WHEREBY WHEN THE MOVABLE END OF SUCHSPRING CONTACT MEMBER IS MOVED BY SAID OPERATOR, THE CONTACT BOWS OFSAID SPRING CONTACT MEMBER EXPAND OR CONTRACT UNTIL SAID SPRING CONTACTMEMBER ENGAGES OR DISENGAGES SAID ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEMBERS THEREBY TOOPERATE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS.